The Lost Boys

by

Various Artists

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This may be the best movie soundtrack of all time. The music found on this disk perfectly captures the feel of the movie. Really what is there to review? Just take a look at all of these 4 and 5 star ratings. If you have seen the film you will want to soundtrack if for nothing else than for the haunting "theme" of "Cry Little Sister" which will become a mainstay on all future Halloween mix CD's. Lou Gramm's "Lost in the Shadows" is as good as anything "Foreigner" ever put out and Gramm's vocals are top notch...seriously just try to listen to "Lost in the Shadows" once...it can't be done, you will be hitting rewind as soon as it begins to fade just to listen to it once more. "Beauty has her Way" and "I Still Believe" are both catchy and immediately take you right back to the late 80's with a sound that was unique to the time, but still sounds fresh today. Really there isn't a weak song on the album. Highly recommended and perfect for a warm, dark summer night.

The Lost Boys Soundtrack was the very first CD I ever purchased. Until 1987 I only had tapes and some vinyl. I was still young and broke on an allowance. CD's and CD players at the time seemed expensive. But I bought this disk anyway, even before I had a player (that followed shortly after as a Christmas gift from my folks).

The Lost Boys was a great glossy 80's flick, full of beautiful trendy people doing terribly violent things. As with other movies and pop culture of the time, this was a great throwback to 50's era drive-in monster movies. I loved the movie when I was a kid in middle school. It just seemed so cool. The "Corys" (like the plot) almost felt credible, even enjoyable. And Keifer was a great villain, so ready-for-MTV. Since then, I've grown up and learned to loathe the cinematic swill that Schumaker creates. But for reasons inexplicable, Lost Boys still holds a fond place in my memory.

The soundtrack however is a different matter. I loved this album too when I was young; but hearing these songs now and out of context of the film can be almost embarrassing. Most of the tracks work beautifully on screen, setting the mood or driving the action. But on CD in their full versions (without the visual candy) most of these tracks feel excessively long, boring and repetitive. The stand-outs for me are Echo & the Bunnymen's faithful and moody cover of the Door's "People are Stange" and the instrumental "To the Shock of Miss Louise" ('cause where else are you going to find merry-go-round music on CD?). The rest tend to test one's patience and urge you to press FF>>.

Strangely though, the themes of The Lost Boys have become almost anthemic in the Goth world. Because Lost Boys was such a slick and hip vampire flick, for the last near-20 years every kid in eyeliner had the video on his shelf... and probably the soundtrack too.

To illustrate my point: I was at a reunion tour of the Sisters of Mercy back in 98. Before the show began, the DJ was spinning a bunch of goth-dance tracks, when all of a sudden the familiar drum beats and synth sounds of "Cry Little Sister" filled the venue. From my spot in the balcony, I scanned the audience below which appeared a sea of black. To my right stood a tall and gaunt dude, pale with long striaght black hair, wearing raybans(indoors, at night). It was too perfect, almost a parody of itself. Another moment in my life framed by this soundtrack.

3 stars... for the novelties and the memories.